The Internet allows for more anonymity than almost any other space we inhabit. Despite this, people still tend to trust the information provided to them by different websites, even if the websites do not have a reliable, credible image behind them. Learning to trust a website, business or blog can be credited to several different methods which may be employed by the author or creator of the site:
1) Simple visuals. Outrageous colors do not appeal to everyone, nor do they look professional. Simple fonts are also more recognizable as sources of official information than crazy script ones, and those ridiculous Flash animations really do not describe anything better than words can.
2) Create an authoritative presence. This can be as simple as showing how many other sites link to your site, or how many page views you receive in a month. If the site receives awards (like a top website award or something about reliability), display these honors, so people know that OTHER people trust the site. When people don't feel alone, they're more likely to trust the reliability of the information.
3) Does the website resonate well with its target demographic? If it is a shopping site for power tools, chances are, it doesn't matter how much the eleven year old thinks the website looks good in order to trust it. However, if the website is a store for power tools, does it sell reliable brands? Are they competitively priced? Have others used this website and recommended it? These are all factors that can quickly determine whether a first-time viewer will continue to use or leave a site forever.
Overview
The Internet allows for more anonymity than almost any other space we inhabit. Despite this, people still tend to trust the information provided to them by different websites, even if the websites do not have a reliable, credible image behind them. Learning to trust a website, business or blog can be credited to several different methods which may be employed by the author or creator of the site:
1) Simple visuals. Outrageous colors do not appeal to everyone, nor do they look professional. Simple fonts are also more recognizable as sources of official information than crazy script ones, and those ridiculous Flash animations really do not describe anything better than words can.
2) Create an authoritative presence. This can be as simple as showing how many other sites link to your site, or how many page views you receive in a month. If the site receives awards (like a top website award or something about reliability), display these honors, so people know that OTHER people trust the site. When people don't feel alone, they're more likely to trust the reliability of the information.
3) Does the website resonate well with its target demographic? If it is a shopping site for power tools, chances are, it doesn't matter how much the eleven year old thinks the website looks good in order to trust it. However, if the website is a store for power tools, does it sell reliable brands? Are they competitively priced? Have others used this website and recommended it? These are all factors that can quickly determine whether a first-time viewer will continue to use or leave a site forever.
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